In a 4- to 5-quart saucepan or Dutch oven, heat the butter over medium-low heat. When hot, add the shallots, leeks, celery, garlic, and a pinch of kosher salt. Stir well, cover, reduce the heat to low, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the aromatics are softened, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in 1 tsp. kosher salt and the garam masala.

Add the butternut squash, vegetable broth, and cider, stir well, and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are very tender and the soup is full-flavored, 7 to 20 minutes.

Take the pan off the heat and let the soup cool for 5 minutes. Working in batches, puree the soup in a blender (fill the jar no more than half full and vent the lid, topping it with a folded kitchen towel to prevent hot splashes). Wipe the pan clean and put the soup back into the pan.

Add the yogurt and 1/2 tsp. of the lime juice. Season the soup with salt and pepper. Taste the soup and adjust the seasonings with more salt, pepper, or lime juice as needed.

Ladle into 8 soup bowls and garnish each serving with 1 to 2 tsp. chopped cilantro.

user reviews

made it?

by dreamon2, 12/8/2014this smelled amazing when it was cooking. I liked the flavor but....the spice overpowered the squash. I didn't taste any squash...just spice....so I would make it again but cut back on the spices.

by twood, 1/17/2014I very much enjoyed this. Fresh, full of flavor. Good both warm and cold! I did add a bit of fresh ginger. Will definitely make this again!

by RArthur, 1/29/2013So glad to have discovered this soup this winter. It's wonderful and so easy to make!

by RArthur, 1/29/2013So glad to have discovered this soup this winter. It's wonderful and so easy to make!

by sercook, 10/19/2011I cheated a little...had already roasted butternut squash in fridge, so I sauteed the leek, celery, garlic, salt, pepper & garam masala for a few minutes, added about 1/2 c (or more) of apple cider and let it simmer a few minutes. I then added the cooked squash to heat up in the pan. Pureed in batches with some water. Skipped the yogurt & lime. Tastes great! Albeit not totally as recipe directed.

by diverdown, 1/9/2011Easy to make, great taste.
My wife is not a soup person, but loved it, and had more than one serving. She even said I will have to make it for her mother.
Nice!!!!